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With the release of the Great Commanders Pack, Suleiman the Magnificent of the Ottoman Empire has become the latest Civilization 6 leader to receive an alternate persona. The original version of Suleiman, Kanuni, is named for Suleiman's epithet "the Lawgiver" and focuses on governance and expansion. The new version, Muhtesem, depicts Suleiman later in life and focuses on his rule as a golden age for the Ottoman Empire.

Related: Civilization 6: Tips For Playing As Saladin

Whichever persona you choose, the Ottoman Empire is best played as an aggressive expander, fielding a powerful military by land. Read on to learn how to claim a truly magnificent victory!

Ottoman Empire Abilities

civilization 6 historic moment ottomans unique unit

Regardless of which version of Suleiman leads them, the Ottomans are geared toward economic and military power. Their signature ability, Great Turkish Bombard, gives an automatic fifty-percent boost to siege unit production, and gives those units an extra five Combat Strength against walls. Furthermore, cities conquered by the Ottomans don't lose any population in the takeover, and get a free Amenity and Loyalty bonus to help integrate them into the Empire more quickly.

Since dedicating lots of resources to siege and army production can have an impact on things like Science and Culture, the Ottomans have a great way to stay on-curve. The Barbary Corsair, their unique naval unit which replaces the Privateer, is a fast, efficient coastal raider. Barbary Corsairs don't require any movement point expenditure to raid and have the same stealth capabilities as Submarines. When you're at war with a civilization, send the Corsairs up and down their coast to raid Campuses, Theater Squares, and Harbors.

The Raid and Total War Policy Cards increase pillage yields, making them extremely valuable for the Ottomans!

At home, the Ottomans can produce extra Amenities to keep their cities happy and extra Strategic Resources to fuel their engine of conquest. The Grand Bazaar is a unique Commercial Hub building that increases its city's production of all Strategic Resources to which it has access by one, and provides an extra Amenity for every improved Luxury Resource in the city.

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Strategy For Kanuni Sultan Suleiman

civilization 6

The younger version of Suleiman, the Lawgiver, provides the Ottomans with two unique and very powerful assets for pursuing a Domination Victory; the Janissary, an extraordinary melee unit available during the Renaissance, and Grand Vizier Ibrahim, a unique and versatile Governor.

Janissaries

Janissaries have five more Combat Strength than a standard Musketman, start with a free Promotion, and can be produced for half the cost. However, they can only be produced in cities with a population of two or more, and if trained in a city that was originally founded by the Ottomans, that city will lose a population. This means that it's important to have at least one productive city that you've conquered by the time you research Gunpowder!

Your early game should focus on conquering at least one city near your starting position. A City-State will do, especially once you've unlocked Catapults and can easily knock down their walls thanks to Great Turkish Bombard. If you can quickly neutralize or eliminate a rival player, that's even better! The goal is to be ready to train Janissaries in overwhelming numbers once the Renaissance rolls around.

As you're researching your way to Gunpowder, make sure to include Commercial Hubs in your cities. You'll need the money to pay for the enormous upkeep costs of your army, especially after the Janissaries upgrade to Line Infantry and no longer have reduced costs.

Grand Vizier Ibrahim

Ibrahim (who was the real Suleiman's right-hand man for over a decade) is a Governor who will likely be sent to several cities over the course of the campaign. His well-rounded set of abilities make him excellent for furthering your goals of conquest, and he can be sent to foreign cities to provide benefits abroad! Here are all of Ibrahim's titles:

Title

Requirements

Effect

Pasha

None

  • Ibrahim's city produces military units twenty percent faster.

Head Falconer

Pasha

  • Friendly units get five additional Combat Strength within the borders of Ibrahim's city.

Serasker

Pasha

  • All units within ten tiles of Ibrahim's City Center get ten additional Combat Strength when attacking City Centers or Encampments.

Khass-Oda-Bashi

Head Falconer

  • If Ibrahim is in an ally's Capital, the Ottomans get an extra half of an Alliance Point with that ally each turn.

Capou Agha

Serasker

  • If Ibrahim is in a foreign Capital, that civilizations Grievances against the Ottomans decay by one additional point per turn.

Grand Vizier

Khass-Oda Bashi OR Capout Agha

  • If Ibrahim is in a foreign Capital, none of that civilization's cities exert Loyalty pressure on Ottoman cities.

As you can see, Ibrahim has many uses throughout the game. Early on, he helps the Ottomans build up a large army, particularly in the mid-game when Janissaries are available. You can establish him on your border or within enemy territory to give your units an advantage when sieging cities - combined with the Great Turkish Bombard, Head Falconer in the target city can combine with Serasker to give your siege units an unbelievable twenty extra Combat Strength!

In the late game, when your armies are marching halfway across the world, you can easily establish a beachhead by sending Ibrahim to your enemy's capital. As long as he as the Grand Vizier title, you won't need to worry about newly-conquered cities rebelling.

Related: Civilization 6: Tips For Playing As Nader Shah

Strategy For Muhtesem Sultan Suleiman

civ 6 leader pass ottomans

The elder version of Suleiman no longer has access to the Grand Vizier (historically, Ibrahim was executed on Suleiman's orders in 1536), but instead brings rotating bonuses based on the Ottoman's current Age. If the Ottomans are in a Golden or Heroic Age, their total Science and Culture yield is increased by fifteen percent. Otherwise, the Ottomans get four additional Combat Strength against other players who are not themselves in a Golden or Heroic Age.

While he may not have the raw military power of his younger self, Muhtesem Sultan Suleiman is much more versatile, especially once he's captured powerful cities. Whenever you're not in a Golden or Heroic Age, leverage Great Turkish Bombard to take the choicest cities from other players - ideally ones with fully-developed Campuses and Theater Squares, or impressive Wonders. Once a Golden Age comes around, turn your focus inward and build up your Districts as quickly as you can to maximize your bonus.

The Ancient Era is always a Normal Age. This means you'll always get Suleiman's combat bonus during early wars with other players. It's even large enough to put you on even footing with Deity-level AI players, who get a bonus of four by default!

Played correctly, Suleiman the Magnificent can be an extremely viable choice for higher difficulty levels, including Deity. Since your opponents will be building grand cities anyway, let them do the work then take the cities from them, getting the benefit of their investment for yourself!

Always try to build or conquer the Taj Mahal if you're playing this version of Suleiman. This Wonder makes it much easier to get a Golden Age, which will keep your Science and Culture yields high for the rest of the game.

If you're not going to be able to reach a Golden Age, it can be worth letting yourself fall into a Dark Age when playing as Suleiman. The Loyalty bonus from Great Turkish Bombard should be enough to keep your cities from rebelling, you'll be able to use Dark Policies if needed, and if you get a Golden Age in the next Era, it will upgrade to a Heroic Age!

The elder Suleiman isn't quite as focused on Domination Victory as the younger, and his yield bonuses mean he can easily switch to nearly any other victory type if needed. Science and Culture are, of course, the best options, but Suleiman the Magnificent is more than capable of pursuing a Diplomatic, Religious, or even Time Victory as well.

Next: Civilization 6: Tips For Playing As Tokugawa